Rugby: Depleted Samoa cannot hold French

APIA - France escaped with a fortunate 39-22 win over Samoa in a dramatic first rugby test between the two countries at Apia Stadium yesterday.

Welsh referee Clayton Thomas sent off Samoan centre George Leaupepe and hooker Trevor Leota early in the second half.

Police escorted Thomas from the field at the end of the game after an elderly spectator took a swipe at him.

Leaupepe was sent off on New Zealand touch judge Steve Walsh's report for punching French fullback Ugo Mola seconds after halfback Joe Filemu had jinked his way over the tryline in the fourth minute of the second half.

The try, which Thomas ruled out, would have put Samoa in front at 21-19.

"What was I supposed to do, the guy was jumping on my throat," Leaupepe said, referring to an incident in which a French player appeared to stamp on him.

Samoa were further handicapped when Thomas then dismissed Leota in the ninth minute for a dangerous high tackle on French prop Christian Califano.

Down to 13 men, Samoa produced a courageous and committed effort only for the French to run in two late tries for a flattering victory.

It was a vastly superior performance from Samoa compared to that a week ago when they drew 6-all with Tonga.

They were 9-0 ahead by the 15th minute courtesy of three penalty goals by second five-eighths John Schuster, but that hard work was partly undone when flanker Malua Tipi gave away a penalty deep in Samoan territory. The French kicked for position 5m out from the tryline and the ensuing lineout saw them drive flanker Olivier Magne over the tryline.

Leaupepe responded seven minutes before halftime after winger Brian Lima tackled Mola and turned possession over for Samoa. The ball was moved to the right for Leaupepe to run 30m to score.

The French trimmed the difference right on halftime when halfback Pierre Mignoni darted over following a 5m scrum to make the score 16-12.

The scrum had been called after Samoan lock Lama Tone knocked the ball on after he was lifted under the crossbar to stop a 40m penalty kick by Thomas Castaignede.

France scored their second try two minutes after the restart by centre Eric Artiguste which Castaignede converted to give his team a 19-16 lead.

Filemu then responded for Samoa only for Thomas to rule out the try and send Leaupepe from the field.

Castaignede kicked his second penalty when Leota was sent off to make it 22-16.

Wilting in humid and wet conditions, France then resorted to desperate defence and cynical offside play to concede a series of penalties.

With Schuster off the field in the second half in a tactical change, Stephen Bachop kicked penalties in the 14th and 16th minutes to level the scores at 22-all.

But he missed attempts from good positions in the 25th and 27th minutes while winger Va'aiga Tuigamala attempted a kick of his own in the 33rd minute from 30m out and failed as well.

Ultimately it was the French, with two late tries, who had the final say.

France next play Tonga in Nuku'alofa on Wednesday before meeting New Zealand A in Hamilton on Sunday and the All Blacks in Wellington on June 26. - NZPA